Shoes donated to sporting clubs

IPSWICH is up and running again after a donation of more than 1000 pairs of shoes by global footwear giant Foot Locker.

Brisbane-based Foot Locker Asia Pacific managing director Phillip Laing said the shoe donation to flood-affected sporting clubs for their members, as well as 1000 discount vouchers for flood-affected residents, was worth more than $100,000.

Mr Laing said, like many people, staff had watched on helplessly as images of a flood-ravaged Ipswich had been broadcast right around the world.

He said the donation was the company's way of being a good corporate citizen and giving back to a community that had suffered much.

“We don't have a store here, but we picked Ipswich because it was so hard hit by the floods,” Mr Laing said.

Men's, women's and children's shoes had been given away.

Among those who have benefited from the offer was Woodend resident Amy Waltisbuhl, who picked up a pair of shoes for her son Tre.

The 16-year-old plays for the Goodna & District Rugby League Football Club.

Ms Waltisbuhl said the donation had meant a lot.

“It is certainly hard to buy shoes at the moment with all the other bills you have to pay,” she said.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and local identities, such as Councillor Andrew Antoniolli, took part in a celebrity footrace in the Ipswich Mall to mark the distribution of the shoes and vouchers.

Cr Pisasale said the donation helped sporting clubs and gave locals an emotional boost.